Posada is wanted by both Venezuela and Cuba states for masterminding the mid-flight explosion of Cubana Airlines flight 455 in 1976, killing all 73 people on board. Recent declassified documents show that Posada acted as a CIA operative for several years, organization that supported his efforts to destabilize the Cuban government. Venezuela issued a detention request on may 13, after it became know that Posada entered U.S. territory.

The suspect illegally entered the United States via the Mexican border in March. After two months of being "unable to confirm his whereabouts," the US was finally able to track the former CIA agent down after he gave a televised press conference. Posada is currently under arrest on immigration charges, and will face a hearing on June 13.